Ceptopsis is commonly
called a Peruvian Blue Whale by English-speaking people and is usually the
species seen in pet store aquariums.

There are apparently a few
color morphs of this species; blue, green, tiger stripped, and one called Sleep
Cetopsis.The whale catfishes are restricted to mainly the northeastern area
of South America (ie; Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela). They
are typically found at depths ranging from 2-40m and can be found in the river
channels of the Brazilian Amazon such as the rivers Amazonas and Solimoes.
Although some cetopsids in the cetopsidae family have only been found at maximum
lengths of 30 mm, C. coecutiens are known to grow up to 35 cm in length.
Their larger size and streamline bodies (comparable to other Cetopsidae) allow
whale catfishes to swim with great effectiveness in faster currents.

This species is thought to be
harmless (See Dr. Warren E. Burgess, Catfishes of the World) however, I would
not trust it too far. They attack fishes and carrion in fast moving surface
waters. They are also known to drill holes in humans and actually eat you from
the inside out. Leaving pretty much a hollow corpse. Law enforcement in areas
where the fish is common would sometimes believe a person was killed by gunfire
because of bullet type holes in the body. Only through autopsy would they find
evidence of carnero intrusion in the hollowed out body (sourceJeramy Wade, River Monsters, Animal Planet). Piranhas are
largely blamed for human mortalities or injuries. But these fish known as
carnero can make a piranha look harmless. There is no doubt that the carnero
does indeed skeletonize humans in a feeding frenzy.

In the digestive tracts of
related species of Cetopsidae such as B. oliveirai, remains of spiders,
heads of ants, mosquito-like dipteran, diptera and orthopteran
have been found. This suggests that Cetopsidae may have some form of terrestrial
diet in addition to other fish. C. coecutiens have one row of thin,
blunt, conical teeth with which they eat their prey. Cetopsidae: Cetopsinae.

The
OPEFE web site and its contents; is disclaimed for purposes of Zoological
Nomenclature in accordance with the International Code of Zoological
Nomenclature, Fourth Edition, Article 8.3 and 8.4. No new names or nomenclature
changes are available from statements at this web site.